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November 1, 2013

Kassai and Moen appointed for Intercontinental Play-Offs

Big honour for Norwegian Svein Oddvar Moen and his pre-selected World Cup team: They have been assigned to handle November's Intercontinental Play-Off between Jordan and Uruguay played in Amman. In addition, Viktor Kassai and company will take charge of the second play-off between Mexico and New Zealand.

Svein Moen will travel to Jordan (c) ZIMBIO

Moen, who has been one of the youngest referees ever promoted to UEFA's highest referee category (Elite), will be accompanied by Kim Thomas Haglund and Frank Andås. Dag Vidar Hafsås completes the all-Norwegian referee quartet. French Bertrand Layec will be present at Amman International Stadium as referee observer.

He has experience with Uruguayan national teams. In 2011, he handled two matches of their U-17 squad, among others their final loss against Mexico in a full Estadio Azteca. Furthermore, Moen handled two matches at last year's Olympic Games. Currently, he is present at U-17 World Cup 2013 and has been appointed to take charge of a quarterfinal (Brazil-Mexico).

Viktor Kassai appointed for Azteca (c) Welt

Additionally, Hungary's Viktor Kassai has been selected to take control over Mexico - New Zealand at Estadio Azteca. In a crowd of almost 100.000, he will be assisted by Gábor Erös, György Ring and István Vad. UEFA Referee Committee member Jozef Marko from Slovakia will assess their performance.

It is the second time for Kassai to whistle a play-off tie of the "Kiwis": back in 2009, he handled their draw with Bahrain that resulted in their participation in World Cup 2010.

Probably these are two of the referees, who are still unsure, but with good chances, maybe even competing dircetly for one (last?) place. It will be interesting, whether we see in the other play-offs only shaky candidates or FIFA appoints also the nearly safe ones for the European duels.

I am surprised that Viktor Kassai and Svein Oddvar Moen will be assessed by European observers. Is it common practice that European assessors "follow" their UEFA referees to intercontinental play-offs? I would have expected for instance a CONCACAF observer for Jordan - Uruguay and a CONMEBOL observer for Mexico - New Zealand instead.

In reality only UEFA observers can compare Moen/Kassai with the other European candidates. So it is a clever move by FIfA to appoint European observers, I think, since it otherwise would have been impossible to rate the referees performances. So, good and also fair for Moen and Kassai, I think.

In addition, the task of a referee assessor in FIFA matches differs from the UEFA referee observer's duties. FIFA observers mostly accompany the referees and show presence at the stadium and perhaps write the report. But the real analysis is done at hotels (if we talk about FIFA tournaments) or by TV observers. And I guess someone called Massimo Busacca will be among these TV observers :) And of course UEFA benefits from Marko and Layec, too (btw, it is the fourth committee member for a match handled by Kassai this year).

It is always a great honour for a referee to be appointed to an intercontinental playoff match for a world cup. Four years ago, FIFA appointed Busacca, Kassai, Undiano and Larrionda to the four intercontinental playoff matches, and subsequently those four referees were all able to attend the 2010 world cup in the following year. I have a feeling that Moen is still young, but he is highly regarded by FIFA, he has a pretty decent chance to attend world cup next year. This is also a good appointment for Kassai, it at least shows FIFA still has the trust in him for those big games.

My answers are:1) Usually, they are known at the start of November. So I expect to get to know them next week. I expect Velasco Carballo from UEFA zone.2) Yes it is possible. Names like Roldán, Irmatov or Nishimura could perhaps be involved in the 2nd legs, too, but we have to wait a bit.